Method of mining coal



R. 8mm. METHOD of MrmNe COAL.`

'AF'PLiCA-TiON FILED. AUG. 3Q, 1920,.

PtentediMar. 7 1922.

PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD BATTEY, 0F BLACK DIAMOND, WASHINGTON.

METHOD OF MINING COAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

` Application filed August 30, 1920. Serial No. 406,821.

T 0 a-ZZ whom t may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD BATTEY, a citizen of Canada, residing at Black Diamond, in the county of King andState of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Mining Coal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mining, particularly to coal mining, and has for its object the provision of a no-vel method of mining coal whereby a relatively larger output of coal is obtained from the expenditure of a relatively less amount of cost and labor than required under present day methods. This involves the provision of a long line or face of coal in an inclined vein or seam, so that when the coal is loosened as by blasting it will fall down the inclinat-ion, clearing the seat of operations and will be precipitated therefrom through chutes into the mine cars, allowing operations at the face to continue without interruption and by advancing the line of .face across the inclination, eliminating the usual chutes and crosscuts, the amount of cost and labor being consequently greatly reduced.

An important object is the provision of a mining system of this character in which ventilation may be obtained at the top of the pitch in any ordinary or preferred manner, my method not in any way interfering with the usual system in this respect.

W'ith the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a cross sectional view through a mine showing the working face of the vein and showing the conveying cars receiving coal from the pitch or inclined gallery, and

Figure 2 is a plan view.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 10 and 11 designate levels which lead to the main openings to the surface. These levels are driven into the seam and are connected at intervals `by suitable crosscuts 12 which are designed to be subsequently used as loading chutes. From the upper level 11 two spaced parallel inclined galleries or chutes 13 and 14 are driven to form a long face 15 of coal. Suitable pillars 16 are also formed as a protection for the level 11. The long face of coal is worked across the inclination by commencing at the bottom of the face next to the pillar 16 andl operation of blasting and subsequently timering in an efficient and rapid manner up the inclination to the top of the face, a large o utput is rapidly secured. The whole operation is then repeated from the bottom of the face 15, which advances the whole face of coal across the pitch, as will be readily understood.

Ventilation can be accomplished by any ordinary or preferred method as in present mining practice. Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that the airway may be made by blasting the roof and forming a back wall or lower side or by connection with the level above.

i It is of course apparent that the entire face 15 of the coal is thus gradually retreated. Successive pillars 16L are left as a protection for the level 11. In Figure 3 the numeral 17a designates the timbers or posts which are quickly set up after the succes sive blasts. In this same figure the numeral 18 designates the hole which is provided for the initial blast at the beginning of each operation of retreating the working face of the coal an additional amount.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simple and easily carried out method of mining coal which will require the expenditure of considerably less labor than is required under the ordinary system and which will therefore be economica] in practice.

lVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the Subj oined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim;

A method of mining coal consisting in by to expose a face ot coal, blasting away the exposed face of coal by successive shots beginning at the lower end of the inclined passages and thus retreating the entire coal face, and timbering the roof exposed at each successive shot, the inclination of the inclined passages and the first named transverse passages endowing the same with the capacity of chutes whereby to gravitationally conduct the coal loosened by blasting to the lower of said first named passages or levels.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

RICHARD BATTEY. 

